A renewed attempt by suspected crude oil thieves to resume illegal refining operations in Egbema-Ndoni, Rivers State, has been foiled by the Nigerian Navy, with about 33,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) recovered during the latest raid.
Confirming the operation, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the exercise formed part of the Navy’s sustained campaign to prevent illegal refiners from returning to previously dismantled camps. He disclosed that the suspects fled before naval personnel arrived, leaving behind large quantities of illegally refined products and equipment used for the illicit activities.
The operation, conducted on Sunday, September 6, 2026, came barely a week after naval operatives dismantled two illegal refining sites in the same area on August 28, highlighting persistent efforts by the operators to re-establish their activities despite repeated crackdowns.
During the raid along the Ndoni Community Road, the naval team destroyed two illegal refining camps and uncovered eight dug-out pits, makeshift reservoirs and sacks believed to have been used in the illegal refining process. Approximately 33,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO were recovered from the sites.
Although no arrests were made, the latest discovery underscores the recurring challenge facing security agencies as illegal refiners continue to return to locations previously cleared by enforcement teams.
Photographs released after the operation showed dark petroleum products stored in polythene-lined pits, with visible oil stains around the affected area. While GPS coordinates attached to the images indicated a location within Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State, the Navy identified the operational area as Egbema-Ndoni in Rivers State.
The Navy said the recovered products and dismantled facilities were handled in accordance with established operational procedures.
The latest operation reflects the Navy’s continued resolve to disrupt illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta, as security forces intensify efforts to prevent the resurgence of illicit oil processing networks in the region.
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